Effect of varying neurons in the hidden layer of neural network for simple character recognition

Numerous advancements, which have been made in the development of intelligent system, are inspired by the biological activities. Neural network is one such complex adaptive system that is able to capture and represent complex input/output relationships. This paper gives an overview of the neural network and further highlights the effect of noise and the number of neurons on the performance of the neural network for simple character recognition application. The number of neurons in the hidden layer is varied during simulation and the effect is observed in the percentage of errors in the recognition of character

A Cadaveric Report on a Giant Ureteric Stone Led Right Hydro Ureter and Severe Hydronephrosis

BACKGROUND: The ureter shows natural constrictions in its course, and these are the potential site for the impaction of the renal calculus. Giant ureteral stones are associated with insidious growth and late presentation, often leading to renal failure.CASE PRESENTATION: In the present case, we observed a huge ureteric stone obstructing the right ureterovesical junction in a 58 year-old male cadaver. We also found hydroureter distal to the impaction of the calculus, renal damage and severe hydronephrosis on the right side. Histopathological analysis showed conditions of arterio-nephro-sclerosis and eroded ureter secondary to the calculus. Ureteric stones obstruction may result in hydroureter, hydronephrosis and progressive renal damage leading to irreversible renal function. The present case provides valuable information regarding the gross and histopathological alterations in ureteric calculi.CONCLUSION: It further enables clinicians to be armed with the knowledge of preventive approaches to educate patients with previous calculi, or those who may develop in the future.

Origin of superior thyroid artery: under the surgeon’s knife

Abstract Background The major arterial supply to the thyroid gland is from the superior and inferior thyroid arteries, arising from the external carotid artery and the thyrocervical trunk respectively. The external laryngeal nerve runs in close proximity to the origin of the superior thyroid artery in relation to the thyroid gland. The superior thyroid artery is clinically important in head and neck surgeries. Objectives To locate the origin of the superior thyroid artery, because wide variability is reported. To provide knowledge of possible variations in its origin, because it is important for surgical procedures in the neck. Methods The origin of the superior thyroid artery was studied by dissecting sixty adult human hemineck specimens from donated cadavers in a Department of Anatomy. Results The highest incidence observed was origin of the superior thyroid artery from the external carotid artery (88.33%), whereas origin from the common carotid bifurcation only occurred in 8.33%. However, in 3.33% of cases, the superior thyroid artery originated from the common carotid artery and in a single case, the external laryngeal nerve did not cross the stem of the superior thyroid artery at all, but ran ventral and parallel to the artery. Conclusions It is important to rule out anomalous origin of superior thyroid artery and verify its relationship to the external laryngeal nerve prior to ligation of the artery in thyroid surgeries, in order to prevent iatrogenic injuries. Moreover, because anomalous origins of the superior thyroid artery are only anatomic variants, thorough knowledge of these is decisive for head and neck surgeries

Serendipitous Discovery of a Benign Obturator Nerve Schwannoma: Case report with a brief clinical review

Schwannomas are typically benign tumours of the peripheral nerves. However, they seldom arise from the obturator nerve. We report a case of an uncommon swelling (2.5 × 3.5 cm) in a 65-year-old male cadaver, found during a routine dissection session for first Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery students in the Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India, in 2019. It was seen originating from the left obturator nerve in the pelvis at the level of the sacral promontory. Histopathological investigation revealed a schwannoma. The hypocellular tumour was arranged in a sweeping fascicle pattern with patches of myxoid degeneration. Obturator schwannomas, though rare, can exist in cadavers, as seen in the present case. Hence, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis for clinical cases of pelvic masses and eliminated only after thorough radiological examination. Knowledge about the existence of such schwannomas is therefore essential. Keywords: Schwannoma; Obturator Nerves; Neurilemmoma; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms; Case Report; India

Effects of maternal vitamin deficiency on the microstructure of the maternal hippocampus and behavior in offspring

الملخص: أهداف البحث: تلعب التغذية دورا مهما في عمل الدماغ وتطوره. فيتامين ب 6 في شكل فوسفات بيريدوكسال مطلوب للتخليق الحيوي للعديد من الناقلات العصبية. نظرا لأن فيتامين ب 6 لا يتم تصنيعه داخليا، يصبح توفر المصادر الغذائية أمرا ضروريا. بسبب مساهمته في الوظائف العصبية، يؤدي النقص الحاد في فيتامين ب 6 إلى زيادة خطر الإصابة بالاضطرابات النفسية والخرف واضطرابات النمو العصبي. هدفت الدراسة الحالية إلى إنشاء نموذج يعاني من نقص فيتامين ب 6 في حيوانات التجارب وتقييم آثار النمو العصبي في ذريتهم. طريقة البحث: تم استخدام إناث فئران ''س 57 ب ل/6 ج'' عمرها شهرين إلى ثلاثة أشهر في الدراسة. تم تقسيمهم بشكل عشوائي إلى المجموعة الضابطة وفيتامين ب 6 الناقص. تم تغذية المجموعة الضابطة بنظام غذائي منتظم يحتوي على 6 ملغ من فيتامين ب 6 / كغ من النظام الغذائي وتم تغذية المجموعة التي تعاني من نقص فيتامين ب 6 بنظام غذائي مخصص يحتوي على صفر ملغ من فيتامين ب 6 / كغ غذاء لمدة خمسة أسابيع (عدد=6). بعد خمسة أسابيع، تم تقدير فوسفات بيريدوكسال في البلازما. تم تربية الحيوانات لتولد ذرية. تم التضحية بالفئران الأمهات أيضا بعد الفطام، وتم تحديد كمية الخلايا العصبية في قرن آمون باستخدام صبغة الكريسيل البنفسجي. تم تخصيص النظام الغذائي للنسل بعد الفطام حتى عمر شهرين. تم تقييم التعلم والذاكرة باستخدام اختبار متاهة موريس المائية. النتائج: أكدت مستويات البلازما فوسفات بيريدوكسال النقص في المجموعة الناقصة بالمقارنة مع المجموعة الضابطة. أظهرت الخلايا العصبية الهرمية القابلة للحياة في منطقة ''س أ 3'' من قرن آمون فرقا كبيرا بين المجموعة الضابطة والمجموعة الناقصة. أظهر النسل المولود للفئران ذات النقص زيادة كبيرة في زمن الوصول للوصول إلى الربع المستهدف أثناء تجربة المسبار مقارنة بالمجموعة الضابطة. الاستنتاجات: يقلل نقص فيتامين ب 6 من الذاكرة في الفئران وذريتهم، مما يشير إلى أهمية فيتامين ب 6 لكل من وظائف الدماغ وتطوره. يجب القيام بالمزيد من البحث في هذه المعرفة والموقف مع مرور الوقت وتنفيذها الفعلي في الممارسة. Abstract: Objectives: Nutrition plays a critical role in the brain's function and development. Vitamin B6 in the form of pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) is required for the biosynthesis of several neurotransmitters. As vitamin B6 is not endogenously synthesized, the availability of dietary sources becomes imperative. Due to its contribution to neurological functions, severe vitamin B6 deficiency leads to an increased risk of psychiatric disorders, dementia, and neurodevelopmental disorders. This study aimed to establish a vitamin B6-deficient model in experimental animals and assess the neurodevelopmental effects in their offspring. Methods: Two- to three-month-old female C57BL/6J mice were used in the study. They were randomly divided into control and vitamin B6-deficient groups. The control group was fed a regular diet containing 6 mg vitamin B6/kg and the vitamin B6-deficient group was fed a customized diet containing 0 mg vitamin B6/kg, for 5 weeks (n = 6). After 5 weeks, plasma PLP was assessed. The animals were bred to generate offspring. The dams were killed following weaning, and the hippocampal neurons were quantified using cresyl violet staining. The offspring were assigned the respective diet post-weaning up to 2 months of age. Learning and memory were assessed using the Morris water maze test. Results: The plasma PLP levels confirmed the deficiency in the deficient group compared to the control group. The viable pyramidal neurons in the cornu ammonis 3 (CA3) region of the hippocampus showed a significant difference between the control and deficient groups. Offspring born to deficient dams showed a substantial increase in latency to reach the target quadrant during the probe trial compared to the controls. Conclusion: Vitamin B6 deficiency reduces memory in dams and their offspring, suggesting the importance of vitamin B6 for both brain function and development